The perfect Olde English Bulldogge is of medium to large height with a large head and a very stout, muscular body. The disposition is outgoing, loyal and courageous. The temperament is very stable and trustworthy. Most importantly, the Olde English Bulldogge is a healthy dog without many of the problems affecting the modern English Bulldog. Males are free breeders and females are free whelpers. The Olde English Bulldogge should be devoid of all breathing problems.

History/Origin:

The exact history of the Olde English Bulldogge is hotly contested, with many breeders claiming that their bloodlines represent the TRUE breed. In our search for our first Olde English Bulldogge (Brock) we found vast differences in the look of the breed across the U.S. We then focused on the look we personally preferred (balanced, no bowed legs, mid-to large size with appropriately sized heads and chests) and then sought to find a breeder whose Bulldogges had these physical characteristics as well as exceptional temperaments and health. We found that the Bulldogge breeders whose dogges we really liked were all registered with the International Olde English Bulldogge Association (IOEBA). The IOEBA seeks to bring all bloodlines under a single standard. The breed history below is from the IOEBA website:

“The Olde English Bulldogge originated in England between 1600 and 1700. These were the early ancestors to many of the Bull breeds that exist today including the English Bulldog and the American Bulldog. They were bred to participate in blood sports like bull baiting. This so called sport, became quite popular in England throughout the middle of the 18th Century. Bull baiting primarily consisted of staking out a bull and allowing several bulldogges to attack it. A dog of great courage and agility was needed for bull baiting. This dog was of medium size; larger dogs were considered to be the result of mastiff crosses.

Around 1835, laws were passed in England prohibiting bull baiting and the Olde English Bulldogges’ main purpose of existence vanished. Within a decade the numbers of bulldogs declined drastically almost to extinction. Dog show fanciers eventually decided to reconstruct the breed, but wanted to tone down the aggressive temperament of the original Olde English Bulldogge. They crossed the remnants of the existing stock with the Pug and over the years that followed they developed the modern English Bulldog. Unfortunately though, this modern dog is wrought with all kinds of genetic health problems.

The modern Olde English Bulldogge is a reconstruction of the original Olde Bulldogge of the 17th and 18th century. Various genetic crosses have been used in carefully and thoughtfully planned breeding programs to obtain this goal. The foundation of most of today’s Olde English Bulldogges can be traced to the English Bulldog, American Bulldog, APBT and Mastiff.

These dogs were used very selectively in various combinations to obtain the desired physical and mental traits of the original Olde English Bulldogge. The result has been a good looking Bulldogge of great athletic ability that is much healthier and physically fit without most or all of the problems that plague today’s modern English Bulldogs. The goal of all Olde English Bulldogge breeders should be to produce genetically healthier Bulldogges that are free breathers, free breeders, and free whelpers.”